New Zealand born Chloe Leaupepe says the best thing she ever did was take her mother’s advice and move back to Australia with her eight-year-old son.
The former Matraville Sports High student told The Women’s Game she wasn't hanging with the right people in New Zealand.
“I was hanging around, not necessarily bad people, but New Zealand’s all about drinking and my mum asked me to move over and I started afresh and I think it was the best decision of my life,” she said.
The NSW women’s Super W team are also happy she made the decision to move back, as Leaupepe’s been at the forefront of the team’s three wins at fly-half.
She's enjoying the camaraderie of her teammates, as well as the atmosphere the Super W provides.
Based in Hurstville, Leaupepe travels to Warringah with some other teammates to play for Warringah.
She said it was a proud moment running out with eight club teammates for the NSW women’s team on home soil last Saturday.
It was the first try of the inaugural Buildcorp #SuperW competition, and jeez she was a pearler.
— NSW Waratahs (@NSWWaratahs) March 11, 2018
Just like a hot knife through butter: Chloe Leaupepe 🔥
Full re-cap >> https://t.co/2b8BLYVVn2
NSW #SuperW + Super Rugby double-header >> https://t.co/IU2yCY5zGk#ForTheLoveOfRugby pic.twitter.com/QyFbzblIPa
She loves playing for the Ratettes, as they have a “good atmosphere and a good vibe” within the team.
Already an international player who made her debut during the Wallaroos second test-match of their New Zealand tour in 2016, Leaupepe says an extended Wallaroo squad will be selected after the Super W final and she was hopeful of selection.
“From here they pick 40 or 50 girls and you have to keep training, making the commitment and the camps...so hopefully”, she said.
Leaupepe perfectionist attitude drives her, mentioning her team could have won by more if some of her teammates listened during their match against the Brumbies.
“We were a little bit scrappy," she said.
"Too many chiefs wanting the ball instead of being patient, too many backs over-calling mine and the halfback’s calls."
Leaupepe said injured skipper Ashleigh Hewson was missed during the match.
“Our fullback, our leader, she’s our number one kicker, she gave me some confidence before the game and just said to me put your head down and be confident when you kick," she said.
“She’s a good leader out there."
Hewson will be back to support her number 10’s calls and set-piece backline moves in the NSW Women's last match of the season.
The team should be firing on all cylinders in their dress rehearsal; a fortnight before the Super W final.
Waiting in the wings and hoping to ambush them will be Queensland; who qualified for the Super W final with their last-gasp 32-30 win over the Western Force last night.
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